Has anybody been out to see the baseball team in the Fall World Series?
Like everyone, I’m obviously interested in how Massey and the other pitchers look, especially Trent Johnson who had a really solid summer following up on a terrific junior college year. I think he needs to be a weekend starter. Solesky also has to be one and then it’s up to returning guys or “newbies.” Who will they be?
Gozzo had a terrible summer in the field, eventually moved to 2nd base from shortstop, but he hit .294. I’ve got to believe he’ll be in the infield somewhere but we need someone to play a really good shortstop. He was about adequate last year in my view. Interestingly, Alex Galy, who is now a redshirt sophomore with almost no playing time, played great defensively all summer at shortstop and, though he hit only .257, he came on strong the last half of the summer. He hit .185 in his first 65 at bats and .320 in his last 75. Was that rust? How’s he doing? Hoese, of course , is another possibility , though he missed most of the summer with injury. Has he recovered? How does he look?
Jonathan Artigues, who was a hero to take on catching chores last season, played the more familiar infield during the summer and hit .310. Gotta like his chances of contributing. Where can he fit in?
And I’m really interested in how Trevor Jensen is looking. He hit .359 and .374 in two years of JC and .341 this summer. He normally plays 3rd base (a need) but also plays the outfield. We need him to make a major contribution.
At first base, it would seem that Matt Rowland, Grant Matthews, and the freshmen, Will Mangurin and Michael Slatten are the most likely starters. Rowland didn’t play this summer and only hit .194 last season at Tulane, though he hit .324 the previous year in similarly limited appearances. (.257 for his Tulane career). I know he was our best hitter last fall and spring, but I’m unconvinced in his hitting. He only hit .182 during the summer of 2016, so his inconsistency is a concern. I don’t know much about the others but we need a first baseman who can hit.
After striking out half of the time last season, Tyler Heinrich had a good summer, batting .343 and cutting his strikeouts down to 39 in 143 at bats (27%). Although he only hit three home runs, he did win the Alaskan League “Home Run Derby,” suggesting some power. We’ll need it. Before getting hurt, I though Kobi Owen showed a lot of potential last year. How’s he doing? And, though Grant Witherspoon didn’t hit much this past summer in the Cape League (.233), he’s undoubtedly our best returning hitter. Do any of the other incoming outfielders look like contributors?
To me, catcher still seems to be in doubt, though we now have several competing for the job. Acy Owen hit .337 last year in JC, while playing about 40% of the time. This past summer, however, he hit only .210. More concerning, opponents stole 29 bases in 33 attempts when he was the catcher and he had ten passed balls in the equivalent of about 20 games; that’s a lot. Ty Johnson is our other JC catcher, who, like Owens, played about 40% of the time last year. He hit .352 last season and threw out half of attempted base stealers, much better. Best I can tell, he didn't play this past summer. Beyond them, we have two other freshmen catchers. Anyone looking good?
Anyhow, I haven’t seen much about fall baseball. Used to be, Tulane would post the box scores of the “World Series” games to give some idea who was playing where and at least who did what during those few games. Now? Nothing that I’ve seen, so any “eyes on” reporting would be appreciated.
Roll Wave!!!
Like everyone, I’m obviously interested in how Massey and the other pitchers look, especially Trent Johnson who had a really solid summer following up on a terrific junior college year. I think he needs to be a weekend starter. Solesky also has to be one and then it’s up to returning guys or “newbies.” Who will they be?
Gozzo had a terrible summer in the field, eventually moved to 2nd base from shortstop, but he hit .294. I’ve got to believe he’ll be in the infield somewhere but we need someone to play a really good shortstop. He was about adequate last year in my view. Interestingly, Alex Galy, who is now a redshirt sophomore with almost no playing time, played great defensively all summer at shortstop and, though he hit only .257, he came on strong the last half of the summer. He hit .185 in his first 65 at bats and .320 in his last 75. Was that rust? How’s he doing? Hoese, of course , is another possibility , though he missed most of the summer with injury. Has he recovered? How does he look?
Jonathan Artigues, who was a hero to take on catching chores last season, played the more familiar infield during the summer and hit .310. Gotta like his chances of contributing. Where can he fit in?
And I’m really interested in how Trevor Jensen is looking. He hit .359 and .374 in two years of JC and .341 this summer. He normally plays 3rd base (a need) but also plays the outfield. We need him to make a major contribution.
At first base, it would seem that Matt Rowland, Grant Matthews, and the freshmen, Will Mangurin and Michael Slatten are the most likely starters. Rowland didn’t play this summer and only hit .194 last season at Tulane, though he hit .324 the previous year in similarly limited appearances. (.257 for his Tulane career). I know he was our best hitter last fall and spring, but I’m unconvinced in his hitting. He only hit .182 during the summer of 2016, so his inconsistency is a concern. I don’t know much about the others but we need a first baseman who can hit.
After striking out half of the time last season, Tyler Heinrich had a good summer, batting .343 and cutting his strikeouts down to 39 in 143 at bats (27%). Although he only hit three home runs, he did win the Alaskan League “Home Run Derby,” suggesting some power. We’ll need it. Before getting hurt, I though Kobi Owen showed a lot of potential last year. How’s he doing? And, though Grant Witherspoon didn’t hit much this past summer in the Cape League (.233), he’s undoubtedly our best returning hitter. Do any of the other incoming outfielders look like contributors?
To me, catcher still seems to be in doubt, though we now have several competing for the job. Acy Owen hit .337 last year in JC, while playing about 40% of the time. This past summer, however, he hit only .210. More concerning, opponents stole 29 bases in 33 attempts when he was the catcher and he had ten passed balls in the equivalent of about 20 games; that’s a lot. Ty Johnson is our other JC catcher, who, like Owens, played about 40% of the time last year. He hit .352 last season and threw out half of attempted base stealers, much better. Best I can tell, he didn't play this past summer. Beyond them, we have two other freshmen catchers. Anyone looking good?
Anyhow, I haven’t seen much about fall baseball. Used to be, Tulane would post the box scores of the “World Series” games to give some idea who was playing where and at least who did what during those few games. Now? Nothing that I’ve seen, so any “eyes on” reporting would be appreciated.
Roll Wave!!!